9 FOX STATIONS FOR SALE

News Corp. plans to jettison just less than one-fourth of its owned-and-operated television stations in the United States.

The company, which owns The Post, said yesterday that it retained boutique investment bank Allen & Co. to sell nine of its Fox-affiliated broadcast television stations.

A sale will reduce News Corp.’s television station count to 26 from 35.

News Corp. is also receiving advice from Allen & Co. on its attempt to buy financial publisher Dow Jones & Co. for $5 billion.

The stations being put up for sale are properties in Cleveland; Denver; St. Louis; Milwaukee; Salt Lake City; Memphis, Tenn.; Greenboro, N.C.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Birmingham, Ala.

None of these locations is a market where News Corp. owns more than one station.